Fury over footage of murdered student

The family of Meredith Kercher, the British exchange student found murdered in November, has expressed horror after a video clip of her corpse was broadcast on Italian television.

The police recording was shown on Telenorba 7, a TV network in the southern state of Puglia, and clearly showed Miss Kercher's body, partially hidden by a duvet, with stab wounds in her neck and her eyes covered by a mask.

The Kercher family's lawyer, Francesco Maresca, said the victim's sister Stephanie was "upset" by the images, adding: "I consider this poor taste and an evident violation of every professional norm."

The broadcast came as three suspects held in connection with the murder of Miss Kercher, 21, of Coulsdon, Surrey, lost an appeal to be freed pending their trial. Amanda Knox, an American student, and her Italian ex-boyfriend, Raffaele Sollecito, will remain in custody with Rudy Hermann Guede while prosecutors compile the case against them, Mr Sollecito's solicitor said.

The Il Graffio programme highlighted apparent mistakes made by investigators including the delayed recovery of parts of Miss Kercher's bra strap, which was found to carry Mr Sollecito's DNA.